No EB-2 Visas for FY 2025: Indian Professionals Face Extended Backlog

(INDIA) The U.S. State Department, working with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, has confirmed that the EB-2 visa category has reached its annual limit for FY 2025, leaving no EB-2 visas available until October 1, 2025. The freeze hits Indian professionals hardest because of the long-running India backlog in employment-based green cards.

The September Visa Bulletin keeps EB-2 India locked at January 1, 2013, meaning only cases with earlier priority dates can move. With the cap now exhausted, officials say there will be no forward movement for EB-2 India until the new fiscal year opens.

What EB-2 covers and why it ran out

• EB-2 visas are for people with advanced degrees or “exceptional ability” in science, business, or the arts.
• By statute, EB-2 makes up 28.6% of the global employment-based quota under Section 203(b)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
• According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, heavy demand in EB-2 combined with per-country limits pushed the category to full allocation well before the fiscal year ended, choking off new immigrant visa issuance for the rest of FY 2025.

The State Department’s decision formalizes a hard stop many applicants feared: when a category becomes “unavailable,” even otherwise-ready cases must pause until visa numbers return.

Policy status and official context

• The EB-2 annual share (about 28.6%) translates to roughly 40,040 green cards in a typical year.
• When demand surges, those numbers can run out early. The 7% per-country cap causes high-demand countries like India to hit ceilings quickly, creating long queues.
• The State Department warns that early FY 2026 may still be tight as agencies handle carryover cases and new filings.

The September 2025 Visa Bulletin shows limited progress for EB-3 India too: the EB-3 India final action date inched to May 22, 2013. That is progress on paper but not enough to ease pressure on employers and families.

• Applicants and employers can track monthly updates on the official U.S. State Department Visa Bulletin.
• USCIS announces monthly whether it will use the “Final Action Dates” or “Dates for Filing” chart for adjustment of status submissions.
• When EB-2 India stays stuck at January 1, 2013 on the final action chart, USCIS cannot approve cases with later priority dates even if all other steps are complete.

Impact on applicants and families

For many Indian professionals, the EB-2 stop confirms a long-standing reality: the line is long and progress is slow.

• Thousands of families are caught mid-process; some have U.S.-born children growing up while parents wait.
• Applicants inside the U.S. with pending Form I-485 must wait for a current priority date to receive green card approval.
  • USCIS can continue background checks and biometrics, but cannot grant permanent residence without a visa number.
• Filing an immigrant petition like Form I-140 is still possible and secures a priority date for future steps.

Consular cases outside the United States are also affected:

• Interviews may be postponed if a visa number isn’t available on the interview date.
• Even approved cases can’t receive visas printed while the category is “unavailable.”

Employers face operational challenges:

• Hiring plans stretch and start dates slip.
• Some employers may rely more on temporary worker visas or remote work outside the U.S., though these are imperfect substitutes.
• Sectors like tech, healthcare, research, and advanced manufacturing are particularly affected.

Strategic actions for applicants and employers

Practical steps to consider now:

1. Keep a close eye on the Visa Bulletin each month for any movement when FY 2026 begins.
2. Ensure labor certifications, immigrant petitions, and supporting documents are ready to file quickly when dates advance.
3. Consider category flexibility:
   • If job requirements and credentials fit EB-3, discuss filing a second petition with counsel.
   • If a profile fits EB-1 (outstanding researchers, multinational managers), explore that path—recognizing EB-1 also faces pressure for India.
4. Maintain valid nonimmigrant status, work authorization, and travel documents where possible.
5. For consular cases, stay in touch with the National Visa Center and the post handling the case.

Employers can support workers by:

• Setting honest expectations about timelines.
• Budgeting for longer case cycles.
• Reviewing internal policies on remote work, travel, and staffing.
• Investing in U.S. graduate pipelines, reskilling, or near-shore teams.

Legislative proposals and longer-term outlook

Two legislative options frequently discussed:

• The Dignity Act of 2025 would aim to reduce the backlog by 2035, raise per-country caps from 7% to 15%, exclude dependents from the cap, and offer a paid premium route for applicants waiting over a decade.
• The Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act (Equal Access to Green Cards for Legal Employment) would remove per-country caps for employment-based green cards.

If passed, either bill could shrink the India backlog over time. But passage is uncertain and timelines are long; legislative calendars and competing priorities often slow action.

Removing per-country caps would likely speed approvals for India and China while slowing them for lower-demand countries during transition. Raising caps and excluding dependents could ease pressure without such sharp shifts, but real relief would still take years.

Human stories and practical consequences

• A software architect in Bengaluru with a 2014 priority date still watches the Visa Bulletin month after month. His employer supports interfiling to EB-3 if that line moves faster, but both tracks are tight.
• Families must plan around uncertain travel and status rules as children age into new education stages and work contracts stretch or shift.

For those already filed, the wait can mean:

• Work permits tied to adjustment expiring and needing renewal.
• Travel plans depending on advance parole.
• Family members needing their own documents.

What to watch and where to get information

• The official source for monthly cutoff dates is the U.S. State Department Visa Bulletin.
• For forms and filing guidance:
  • USCIS: Form I-140 — https://www.uscis.gov/i-140
  • USCIS: Form I-485 — https://www.uscis.gov/i-485

Key takeaways

• No EB-2 visas will be issued again until October 1, 2025.
• EB-2 India remains fixed at January 1, 2013.
• The India backlog continues to shape careers and family plans.
• The next potential movement depends on the start of the new fiscal year and any legislative changes lawmakers may enact.

Applicants and employers should prepare documents, explore alternate categories where eligible, maintain valid status and authorization, and rely on official monthly updates for the latest cutoff dates.